Arcata Council Debates Repairing Extreme-Weather Shelter or Water Meter Replacements

Arcata City Council members wrestled with a stark choice over roughly $2.9 million in Community Development Block Grant funds: rehabilitate The Grove, an Arcata House Partnership shelter with 16 of its 60 units currently unusable, or start replacement of about 700 aging water meters that are causing revenue shortfalls for the city. The three council members present delayed a recommendation and set a special meeting for Feb. 26 at 5:00 p.m. to decide which project staff should pursue.

Vice-Mayor Stacy Atkins-Salazar presided at the Feb. 18–19 scoping hearing, joined by council members Alexandra Stillman and Meredith Matthews. With two council members absent, the trio voted to continue the public hearing and postpone a formal recommendation until the full five-member council can convene on Feb. 26.

The Grove proposal would be a major rehabilitation of the 60-unit extreme-weather shelter and housing complex operated by Arcata House Partnership; city staff listed a $2.9 million CDBG request to address the repairs. City materials state Arcata House Partnership does not have the funds to repair the 16 units that are out of service, and staff framed the work as a "big project" eligible for the CDBG application alongside smaller items.

The competing proposal would direct the same roughly $2.9 million to bulk replacement of Arcata's water meters. Finance Director Tabatha Miller told council that about 700 meters are "slowly going out" and replacing failed meters affects billing accuracy and revenue. "It doubled when their meter was replaced," Miller said. "And in talking to them, what we're finding is that they probably weren't paying the right amount. When we ask how many people are in the house, what kind of house it is, what their habits are, it's clear that they were underpaying."

City staff cautioned that $2.9 million would not cover replacement of every malfunctioning meter; staff estimate an additional $4 million to $5 million would be required to replace all dead meters, with potential funding from the state's water fund or Arcata's water enterprise fund. Staff also noted that accurate meters could allow the city to lower water rates, while failing meters could force future rate increases.

Community Development Director David Loya told the council that both projects "score equally on California's scoring rubric" and that "whichever option the council prioritizes has a solid chance of earning funding." Loya added that because Arcata has prior experience completing projects similar to the water meter replacement with CDBG funds, the meter option "would probably have a better shot of getting that funded."

Council members also approved, on the consent calendar, a unanimous extension of a local emergency declaration first issued after the Jan. 2 fire that razed half a city block northwest of Arcata Plaza; the extension was the first 40-day review required under city statute. Arcata House Partnership was operating an emergency overnight shelter and a daytime warming center at 501 Ninth Street during a Feb. 17 winter storm; the warming center offered food, showers and phone charging and could be reached at 707-633-6236. For meeting accommodations, the City Clerk listed a contact number of 822-5953 in council materials.